DRAMATIC CHANGE IN YUGOSLAVIA

Evening Star, Issue 23846, 28 March 1941, Page 5

DRAMATIC CHANGE IN YUGOSLAVIA

Bloodless Revolution Against Nation's Betrayers

PRINCE PETER TAKES ROYAL POWERS P ' New National Government Formed AXIS PACT SIGNATORIES UNDER ARREST Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 27. (Received March 28, at 8 a.rrii) A message from Belgrade states that the Regent's Cabinet has resigned and Prince Peter has been proclaimed King. Diplomatic sources said that immediately after the proclamation . King Peter appointed as Prime Minister General Dusan-Simovitch, known as an Anglophile.

Detailed reports show that, as the result of a bloodless military • coup d'etat in Belgrade at 2.30 in the morning, Prince Peter took ■ royal power into his' own ■'ha'nds, and General Dusan-Simovitch, Chief of the General Staff and commander of the Yugoslav Air Corps, became Prime Minister. M. Tsvetkovitch, the , » 5 former. Prime Minister, and the other Ministers who approved the pact with the Axis, including the Minister of War, are under arrest.

It is also reported from, Belgrade that the Regent, Prince Paul, and his wife have left the country. "YUGOSLAVIA FINDS ITS SOUL" Mr Churchill, arriving late at a meeting of the Conservative Party, 'dramatically, announced: " I have’great you and the whole country. Early this morning the Yugoslav nation found its soul." He added that a revolution had occurred in Belgrade, and that the Ministers who but yesterday had signed away the honour and freedom of their country were reported to be under arrest.' . " This patriotic movement," he said, " arises from the wrath of a valiant race, a ( race who had their country betrayed by the weakness of their rulers and the foul intrigues of the Axis Powers. We may, therefore, cherish the hope that a Yugoslav Government will be formed worthy to defend the freedom and integrity of its country. Such a Government in its brave endeavour will receive all possible aid' and succour from the British Empire, and I have no doubt from the United States. In its own way the British Empire and its Allies will make common cause with the Yugoslav nation. We will continue to march and strive together until complete victory is won."